What’s the relationship betwixt Cole Hardware and the national Ace Hardware Co-op with billions dollars in sales? Don’t know. When you buy a hammer at Cole Hardware, does that get included in Ace’s claimed $3 billion in annual sales? Don’t know.

Ace can afford to hire spokespeople like former Oaklander John Madden, so that allows for a national brand and that has allowed Ace to become the “Savior of Main Street“? Really?

(Ace was famous for dropping Suzanne Somers as a spokesmodel back in the day because a goofy photo of her surfaced and then was used for a waterski company’s ad. Here’s the PG-13 version (oddly Photoshopped, for some purpose) and the here’s the R-rated Full Monty, though it looks more like something from an especially joyful mammogram, which she probably could have used at the time as she’s now a breast cancer survivor. Speaking of which, don’t “have a discussion with your doctor” when you turn 40 ladies, just demand your mommygram, that’s it, no discussion needed, to Hell with any federal task force. Speaking of local, poor Suzanne was kicked out of USF (nee Lone Mountain College for Women) for getting preggers back in ’64. What a different world it was back then. But I digress…)

How many Cole Hardware stores would have to open before it would be considered just another despised chain store? Don’t know.

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2 Responses to “Is Famous Cole Hardware a Local Store, a Chain Store, or Something In Between?”

This post raises some interesting questions. However, would it have been impossible to seek out the answer to the exact relationship between Ace and Cole Hardware? I understand that you are not an investigative reporter, but why bother asking (and posting) if you’re not going to attempt to seek out an anwer?

I also find it bizarre that you suggest there are no meaningful differences between something like Lowe’s or Home Depot and Cole Hardware, and that there are no societal implications in choosing to shop at one over the other. Granted, we shouldn’t make assumptions about what these differences are or are not, and we might be surprised to find out what they are or are not. But you merely raise a question and then draw the conclusion that because there are questions there must not be much of a difference. That’s quite a leap.

I’ll leave you with one thought: People often assume it is ‘cheaper’ to shop at the big box stores. If this is true (which it may or may not be, and which may or may not be reflected in the price consumers pay), one must consider other factors, like how much did the community pay in tax incentives to bring the store in and give it its enormous parking lot? How far are people driving to get there and back, when all they need is a few things? Both of these raise questions of overall environmental impacts. Perhaps most importantly, if there are indeed savings, who is bearing the brunt of these low costs (i.e. who is being exploited so you don’t have to pay more?)?

Your post is shockingly incomplete. I have not read your blog before, but I don’t know if you’re quite living up to the implied responsibilities of a ‘citizen.’ Opinions are valid, but they should be informed opinions, and backing them up is usually a nice thing to do when presenting an argument. Also, a citizen absolutely should care where one gets their hammers and mouse traps. Just sayin’.